Kim Jong Un has decided that he does like Trump after all

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has decided after all that the U.S. Republican candidate Donald Trump is not that bad. In fact, he has described him as a “wise politician” and a “far-sighted candidate” who, if he were to become president, could help in the reunification of the Korean peninsula. The message was not given directly by the regime’s leader but published in an editorial of the DPRK Today, the state official media. The message also welcomed Trump’s proposal of holding direct talks between the two of them. According to The Washington Post, Han Yong-mook, a Chinese North Korean scholar said:

“There are many positive aspects to Trump’s ‘inflammatory policies’. Trump said he will not get involved in the war between the South and the North, isn’t this fortunate from North Korea’ perspective?”

And although the editorial was not coming directly from Pyongyang, it does give an idea of what is happening inside the regime. As Aidan Foster-Carter of the University of Leeds said:

“This is very striking. Admittedly it is not exactly Pyongyang speaking, or at least not the DPRK government in an official capacity. But it is certainly Pyongyang flying a kite, or testing the waters. For the rest of us, this is a timely reminder – if it were needed – of just how completely Trump plans to tear up established US policy in the region.“

The editorial also made reference to Trump’s speech in March in which the billionaire tycoon proposed that South Korea and Japan should be able to have nuclear bombs in order to deter North Korea without the need of U.S. help, and that the U.S. military forces should withdraw from Seoul. And while the idea of Seoul increasing its military spending and developing nuclear weapons might not sound as good for North Korea, the U.S. withdrawal from the area does. John Feffer, director of Foreign Policy in Focus, explains how North Korea’s love for Trump is based on convenience and the hope that if elected he will change the game in a way that would be beneficial to the regime (similar to China’s preference of Donald Trump). The article even went further to urge Americans not to vote for “dull” Hillary Clinton.

“The president that US citizens must vote for is not that dull Hillary – who claimed to adapt the Iranian model to resolve nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula – but Trump, who spoke of holding direct conversation with North Korea.”

The presumptive Republican nominee has faced a lot of criticism from foreign leaders from all possible countries due, in large part, because of his complete ignorance on foreign policy and flamboyant policy suggestions. North Korea had not been the exception, at least until now. The idea of holding direct talks was seen, less than a week ago as nonsense. In fact, his entire campaign has been strongly criticised by North Korea. But coherence is not a trait of either the Republican candidate, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, or any of Trump’s followers, so I guess it makes some sense after all.

From Mexico City, Carolina has lived in five different countries, experiences she defines as the most enriching. She has focused her studies and work on international conflicts and international security issues, diplomacy and protocol. Carolina holds two MA degrees and hopes to begin her PhD studies soon.